How to Repurpose Unwanted Items

It is rare to find anybody who doesn’t have a few unwanted possessions lying around or stowed away. Over the years it is frustratingly easy to accumulate objects that serve little to no use. Having a tidy, organized home makes life easier and reduces stress, mainly because there are fewer external and unnecessary objects holding you back with responsibility. By cutting down on the amount of clutter in your home, you are left with only the most useful or precious items that don’t irritate you with their presence. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to locate these unwanted items and then find a way of either getting rid of them or giving them a new purpose. Here are a few suggestions as to how you might want to go about finding new homes for your unwanted possessions, whether that is with someone else or as a new object entirely.​

One: See the Value in Nostalgia

Nostalgia has become a huge market for many kinds of businesses. The fashion industry thrives on returning trends, and it seems that every few decades a resurgence in an old style comes back with a modern twist. It also applies to industries such as interior design and architecture, with experts designing contemporary buildings with hints of the past. One area where nostalgia is particularly surprising is that of technology. It would first appear that technology is always moving forward and only retaining the most successful elements of its past. However, the pride of someone with an original Gameboy or the first edition of Pong is unrivaled. As children become adults, their childhood possessions get lost or thrown away over the years. That’s why, when they are fully grown, it can strike a spring of nostalgia to find an old piece of tech from their youth up for sale. This includes all kinds of toys and games that link people to the happy memories of their past; for example, old McDonalds toys are strangely iconic and still popular to this day. Search your home for any interesting objects such as clothes, gadgets, and toys that might make a surprising amount of money when sold to the right nostalgic buyer.

Two: Upcycle

The planet is struggling desperately in the wake of global industrialization and pollution. It is no longer a future concern but a pressing emergency that needs addressing immediately. Landfill and other waste disposal are contaminating organic life on land and in the sea to the point where many species are dying out or going extinct entirely. Humanity has become so productive and efficient that it creates more than it can use, meaning that food, textiles, technology, and other materials are being left to clog up the natural environment. It can certainly make you think twice about getting rid of any unwanted belongings in your home as the thought of contributing to the planet’s demise isn’t pleasant for anyone. However, there are ways of throwing out your old junk without harming the environment. Upcycling is a method of repurposing and producing something from a pre-existing product. It involves using materials for unique purposes that give new life to something that has run its course. There are some excellent companies out there who upcycle in order to produce quality goods, such as bags, shoes, clothes, and other useful items. Why not find some of your unwanted objects and create something out of them? Give purpose back to your junk by viewing it through new lenses and making something entirely fresh. If you enjoy it enough, you could even start a home-grown business out of it!

Three: Mend and Sell

Some old stuff can be easily sold or turned into something new. Other things, however, might be broken or faulty and simply pose an obstacle in your home. Especially when it comes to larger objects that cost quite a lot of money when you first bought them, just throwing it out can feel like a huge waste. Instead, look for a way to fix whatever aspect of it has broken or needs replacing. If the effort and cost of the repair balances with the final value of the mended object, it is well worth investing to sell your unwanted possessions later. If your old dining set only needs a bit of sanding or a polish, give it some special treatment and find an interested buyer. Just because you don’t want it anymore doesn’t mean someone else will feel the same. There are loads of places you can use as a platform to sell from, and sooner or later, a very grateful customer will take that unwanted object off your hands, and you’ll make a bit of unexpected money.

Four: Create Art

If you have a creative streak, turn your unwanted possessions into art that nobody has seen before. Your unique perspective and the nature of your items is the perfect combination for creating artwork that is more valuable than the disused objects you made it from. Torn or stained clothes can be ripped apart and resewn into patchwork; old VHS tapes could be dissembled and turned into a portrait. Whatever the object, if you are feeling artistic, then by putting effort into the construction of something new you are bringing purpose back to the unwanted possession. Who knows - maybe someone else will like your work and offer to buy it from you!

Five: Remember the Purchase

Even if your first instinct upon opening the garage door or stepping up into the attic is to host an impromptu yard sale and get rid of all your junk, sometimes it is worth taking a moment to pause and reflect on what you were thinking or feeling at the time you bought a particular unwanted object. For example, did you buy a piece of band merchandise during a music craze in your youth? Do you have a collection of comics that meant a lot to you as a child but don’t interest you anymore? Sometimes the only purpose your possessions need is to remind you of happy memories.